D.C. United Trades Danny Cruz To Philadelphia Union For Lionard Pajoy

Three days before D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union are scheduled to meet at RFK Stadium, the two sides made a deal.

United announced Thursday that it had traded midfielder Danny Cruz to the Union in exchange for midfielder Lionard Pajoy and an international roster spot.

Cruz, 22, made 12 starts and 16 total MLS appearances for United this season after being acquired in January from the Houston Dynamo. He played 969 minutes and recorded a goal and three assists.

Pajoy, 31, had played for Philadelphia since January, when he was signed from Itagüí Ditaires in the Colombia first division. He had made 16 MLS starts and 20 total appearances for the Union, scoring five goals.

"It was not an easy decision to trade Danny. He's been a terrific player on and off the field this season," said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper in a statement released by the club. "We felt that we needed to add another piece up top and the opportunity to get Lionard Pajoy was one that we could not pass up. We're excited to integrate him into our side immediately."

Pajoy will be available to suit up for United against his former club Sunday afternoon at RFK. That match kicks off at 5 p.m. and can be seen on NBC Sports Network.

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